Post by stesync on Sept 13, 2008 12:56:24 GMT
Bestival
Robin Hill Country Park
Isle of Wight
5th - 7th September 2008
Featuring - The Specials, Underworld, Pendulum, My Bloody Valentine, Gary Numan, Human League and more
Reviewed by Steve Sync
Looking at the 5 day weather report a few days before this event, I got the feeling I'd better upgrade my waterproof gear pronto! This was a very good idea because from the moment we left Southampton by ferry on the Friday, the clouds opened and didn't seem to relent very much until the Sunday afternoon! "It's all about preparation" Words spoken by Fairziff and myself at last years V Festival which was also wet...., but never had I ever seen a festival as wet and muddy as Bestival.
I'll keep this review short and sweet due to not having much time but I have added stolen photo's to aid viewing.
After setting up camp in torrential rain we decided to drink heavily and get ourselves down to the festival site. On the up side, the Khagools were great for smuggling in a cocktail of Vodka, Lager, and a few herbs for good measure. Now we were well and truly ready to sample what Bestival had to offer.
Transglobal Underground (pic above) gave us our first taste of live music, and even though we hadn't really heard their stuff before, it didn't stop us bobbing around like idiots as we got into the festival spirit. After this we decided to head to the main stage to check out The Wedding Present, but we got caught in an extremely heavy downpour which lasted for a good couple of hours so we sheltered in a bar while we finished off our ale.
Dave Taxi and myself were the only 2 of our crew that were brave enough to leave the shelter of the bar and check out Pendulum in the rain.
We decided that the best way to appreciate them was to get ourselves right down to the front which we did with some ease. Pendulum turned out to be superb, with their pulsating back line of synths and drums which could rip your spleen out if you listened for too long. Yes their songs are a little samey, but they do fit the bill for a main stage evening festival act and we left happy. Next up, My Bloody Valentine.
By now we were incomprehensibly pissed so my memory is sketchy but I do remember at the end of their set, they performed an enormous wall of sheer noise and mayhem which seemed to go on for ages. I may cover that song if I get stuck for ideas in future!
Saturday - After a day and night like the previous, we all surfaced late, We made our way to the festival site and from out of the Big Top Tent we heard the droning symphony intro of The Human League's well acclaimed 'Dare' album.
They played this whole album live (full band) in its entirety. Whilst watching we realised they did have a couple of album fillers but most of the tracks off this album were well known hits. They also played the main stage later on with a greatest hits set but we had better things to do by then.
The first record I ever bought with my pocket money as a child was 'Cars' by Gary Numan (yes, age check) and I would fight to the death to defend this singles brilliance and importance as a timeless masterpiece. Amazingly, I was the only one of our group that felt this way about Gary, so I left the rest of our clan in the big top tent as they waited for fucking Chas & Dave to perform!
Arriving at the main stage I was hoping for a set of electronic synth anthems although when he came on it soon became apparent that he was going for the more dark semi-industrial metal sound with his live band bashing out chugging guitar chords through what I can only describe as a second rate Nine Inch Nails style set. Highlights were obviously 'Cars' even though they'd beefed it up with the chugging guitars which did spoil it a little, and also the last song 'Are Friends Electric' which had also been tampered with, but for the better as this song went from a quiet piano line with spoken word lyrics to the gut wrenching synth anthem with huge powerful droning string sounds which wrapped around the whole audience protecting them from the rain! Awesome song! Another thing I noticed about Numans band was his keyboard player who unmistakably was the same 7 foot tall Herman Munster look alike from the band KIK who I saw supporting Nitzer Ebb earlier this year (pic above).
After Numan I looked at my band timetable list which stated a 'Surprise Act' would be on next so I went to the sound desk area to see if I could find out who it was. I asked a fellow festival goer if he knew who the surprise act was and when he answered "The Specials" I nearly came in me wellies! I replied "Do you mean Neville Staples Specials?" (who have been touring this year) to which he replied "No, They've re-formed with Terry Hall!" Jesus Christ! One of my all time favourite bands about to perform and I would have missed it if it wasn't for Gary Numan! Maybe buying that 'Cars' single all those years ago had more repercussions than I thought.
Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter, John Bradbury, Roddy Byers and an unknown keyboard player (Jerry Dammers not present!) all took to the stage to the huge delight of myself and thousands of other excited fans. By now I'd pushed my way to the front for this, bring it on! Neville came to the front and shouted "Bernie Rhodes knows don't argue" and bang, straight into the bands debut single Gangsters! Amazing! after the first couple of songs Terry Hall quipped "I've waited 27 years to perform to a field of fucking King Prawns!" He was referring to the fancy dress code for the festival which was 30000 Freaks Under The Sea with marine and nautical costumes everywhere. I can't remember the whole set list but the band also played A Message To You Rudy, Do The Dog, It's Up To You, Nite Klub, Doesn't Make It Alright, Concrete Jungle, Too Hot, Monkey Man, New Era (Dawning Of A), Blank Expression, Too Much Too Young, Little Bitch, Rat Race and ended with the apt You're Wondering Now song. What a set with virtually the whole of their 1979 debut album played I was a very happy prawn! They sounded great and seeing them live, you appreciate what excellent musicians they are especially Bradbury and Panter (Drums & Bass) who were tight as fuck and re-created those recorded live performances I played to death over the last 3 decades perfectly. I also hear The Specials will be touring later this year so you would be a crazy fool to miss such a legendary band.
Sunday - Woke up to the unusual sound of 'No Rain'. Todays lineup didn't look that great so we were planning on trying out some of the smaller more diverse music tents. In between this we did stroll down to the main stage where Baaba Maal? was performing.
They appeared to have numerous drummers all going for it and the overall sound was what I can only describe as "Dropping 4 kettles down a flight of stairs!" They were very colourful, but we didn't stick around to long.
Whilst going from place to place we also witnessed George Clinton who has the dullest, slowest, lowest voice I have ever heard, the guy plays at 33 rpm!
The highlight of Sunday was always going to be Underworld. I had been woken up by them sound checking that very morning and they sounded great then. With a clear night sky now above, Underworld played to a capacity main stage audience and they didn't disappoint with their captivating rhythms and trance anthems. They also created great visuals as well considering there's very little movement happening on stage. After their set there was a huge firework display prompting gasps and sighs from the satisfied festival crowd.
This weekend was a test of character as we were met with such poor conditions for an outdoor festival, but it felt good that we had beaten the weather and enjoyed the whole experience in full, although I hope the festivals I attend next year are somewhat drier!
Robin Hill Country Park
Isle of Wight
5th - 7th September 2008
Featuring - The Specials, Underworld, Pendulum, My Bloody Valentine, Gary Numan, Human League and more
Reviewed by Steve Sync
Looking at the 5 day weather report a few days before this event, I got the feeling I'd better upgrade my waterproof gear pronto! This was a very good idea because from the moment we left Southampton by ferry on the Friday, the clouds opened and didn't seem to relent very much until the Sunday afternoon! "It's all about preparation" Words spoken by Fairziff and myself at last years V Festival which was also wet...., but never had I ever seen a festival as wet and muddy as Bestival.
I'll keep this review short and sweet due to not having much time but I have added stolen photo's to aid viewing.
After setting up camp in torrential rain we decided to drink heavily and get ourselves down to the festival site. On the up side, the Khagools were great for smuggling in a cocktail of Vodka, Lager, and a few herbs for good measure. Now we were well and truly ready to sample what Bestival had to offer.
Transglobal Underground (pic above) gave us our first taste of live music, and even though we hadn't really heard their stuff before, it didn't stop us bobbing around like idiots as we got into the festival spirit. After this we decided to head to the main stage to check out The Wedding Present, but we got caught in an extremely heavy downpour which lasted for a good couple of hours so we sheltered in a bar while we finished off our ale.
Dave Taxi and myself were the only 2 of our crew that were brave enough to leave the shelter of the bar and check out Pendulum in the rain.
We decided that the best way to appreciate them was to get ourselves right down to the front which we did with some ease. Pendulum turned out to be superb, with their pulsating back line of synths and drums which could rip your spleen out if you listened for too long. Yes their songs are a little samey, but they do fit the bill for a main stage evening festival act and we left happy. Next up, My Bloody Valentine.
By now we were incomprehensibly pissed so my memory is sketchy but I do remember at the end of their set, they performed an enormous wall of sheer noise and mayhem which seemed to go on for ages. I may cover that song if I get stuck for ideas in future!
Saturday - After a day and night like the previous, we all surfaced late, We made our way to the festival site and from out of the Big Top Tent we heard the droning symphony intro of The Human League's well acclaimed 'Dare' album.
They played this whole album live (full band) in its entirety. Whilst watching we realised they did have a couple of album fillers but most of the tracks off this album were well known hits. They also played the main stage later on with a greatest hits set but we had better things to do by then.
The first record I ever bought with my pocket money as a child was 'Cars' by Gary Numan (yes, age check) and I would fight to the death to defend this singles brilliance and importance as a timeless masterpiece. Amazingly, I was the only one of our group that felt this way about Gary, so I left the rest of our clan in the big top tent as they waited for fucking Chas & Dave to perform!
Arriving at the main stage I was hoping for a set of electronic synth anthems although when he came on it soon became apparent that he was going for the more dark semi-industrial metal sound with his live band bashing out chugging guitar chords through what I can only describe as a second rate Nine Inch Nails style set. Highlights were obviously 'Cars' even though they'd beefed it up with the chugging guitars which did spoil it a little, and also the last song 'Are Friends Electric' which had also been tampered with, but for the better as this song went from a quiet piano line with spoken word lyrics to the gut wrenching synth anthem with huge powerful droning string sounds which wrapped around the whole audience protecting them from the rain! Awesome song! Another thing I noticed about Numans band was his keyboard player who unmistakably was the same 7 foot tall Herman Munster look alike from the band KIK who I saw supporting Nitzer Ebb earlier this year (pic above).
After Numan I looked at my band timetable list which stated a 'Surprise Act' would be on next so I went to the sound desk area to see if I could find out who it was. I asked a fellow festival goer if he knew who the surprise act was and when he answered "The Specials" I nearly came in me wellies! I replied "Do you mean Neville Staples Specials?" (who have been touring this year) to which he replied "No, They've re-formed with Terry Hall!" Jesus Christ! One of my all time favourite bands about to perform and I would have missed it if it wasn't for Gary Numan! Maybe buying that 'Cars' single all those years ago had more repercussions than I thought.
Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Lynval Golding, Horace Panter, John Bradbury, Roddy Byers and an unknown keyboard player (Jerry Dammers not present!) all took to the stage to the huge delight of myself and thousands of other excited fans. By now I'd pushed my way to the front for this, bring it on! Neville came to the front and shouted "Bernie Rhodes knows don't argue" and bang, straight into the bands debut single Gangsters! Amazing! after the first couple of songs Terry Hall quipped "I've waited 27 years to perform to a field of fucking King Prawns!" He was referring to the fancy dress code for the festival which was 30000 Freaks Under The Sea with marine and nautical costumes everywhere. I can't remember the whole set list but the band also played A Message To You Rudy, Do The Dog, It's Up To You, Nite Klub, Doesn't Make It Alright, Concrete Jungle, Too Hot, Monkey Man, New Era (Dawning Of A), Blank Expression, Too Much Too Young, Little Bitch, Rat Race and ended with the apt You're Wondering Now song. What a set with virtually the whole of their 1979 debut album played I was a very happy prawn! They sounded great and seeing them live, you appreciate what excellent musicians they are especially Bradbury and Panter (Drums & Bass) who were tight as fuck and re-created those recorded live performances I played to death over the last 3 decades perfectly. I also hear The Specials will be touring later this year so you would be a crazy fool to miss such a legendary band.
Sunday - Woke up to the unusual sound of 'No Rain'. Todays lineup didn't look that great so we were planning on trying out some of the smaller more diverse music tents. In between this we did stroll down to the main stage where Baaba Maal? was performing.
They appeared to have numerous drummers all going for it and the overall sound was what I can only describe as "Dropping 4 kettles down a flight of stairs!" They were very colourful, but we didn't stick around to long.
Whilst going from place to place we also witnessed George Clinton who has the dullest, slowest, lowest voice I have ever heard, the guy plays at 33 rpm!
The highlight of Sunday was always going to be Underworld. I had been woken up by them sound checking that very morning and they sounded great then. With a clear night sky now above, Underworld played to a capacity main stage audience and they didn't disappoint with their captivating rhythms and trance anthems. They also created great visuals as well considering there's very little movement happening on stage. After their set there was a huge firework display prompting gasps and sighs from the satisfied festival crowd.
This weekend was a test of character as we were met with such poor conditions for an outdoor festival, but it felt good that we had beaten the weather and enjoyed the whole experience in full, although I hope the festivals I attend next year are somewhat drier!